KUALA LUMPUR – The Labour Party of the United Kingdom won a historic landslide victory in the July 4 election, securing 412 of the 650 parliamentary seats. While the new administration is still in its early days, this shift in power raises a pertinent question. How will it impact countries like Malaysia?
The centre-left party’s triumph ended the Conservative Party’s 14-year rule, which had been plagued by political instability for the past seven years due to Brexit, resulting in five prime ministers during this period.
With Labour Party leader Keir Starmer appointed prime minister by King Charles III on July 5 and the formation of a cabinet, Malaysia’s relationship with the UK may take on new dynamics.
Scoop has sought insights from Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and British economist Geoffrey Williams of Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd to explore what a UK Labour government means for Malaysia, which has maintained diplomatic relations with the former colonial nation since 1957.
Labour immigration pledges will not affect Malaysians
The British party pledged in its election manifesto to reduce net migration by lowering the demand for overseas workers, which would be achieved by training British workers and ensuring better wages. It also promised to curb the entry of illegal immigrants who arrive in the UK via small boats from the European continent, a crisis the party claims has worsened under previous Conservative administrations.
Oh said that Labour’s focus on reducing net migration by combating illegal immigration would have little impact on Malaysians, who are legal immigrants with lucrative careers.
“I think the UK will continue to welcome Malaysians with talent and skills that could enrich the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Williams said that the Starmer government’s immigration policy would signify a return to the more open immigration policies previously embraced by the country, which should benefit Malaysians wishing to migrate to the UK.
An ally for Putrajaya on Gaza?
Oh suggested that the Labour government could become sympathetic towards the Palestinian cause and could be an ally for Putrajaya in its ongoing global mission to urge nations to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which Israel has besieged since Hamas’ October 7 attack on the Jewish state.
“The Labour Party is, by definition, a leftist party, and leftist parties have traditionally aligned themselves more readily with the Palestinians’ side in the Israel-Palestine conflict,” he said.
The Labour government, through its Foreign Secretary David Lammy, had immediately pushed for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas following its formation.
On the flip side, Williams said that Starmer’s government is likely to adopt the “same general tone” as the Conservative governments in addressing this Middle East conflict.
“The rhetoric (by the Labour Party UK) may say they are pushing for a ceasefire but the reality is they are pro-Israel and pro-US,” he said.
Before the July 4 general elections, Starmer faced accusations of purging pro-Palestine Labour politicians from the left flank of the party from running for re-elections.
Among those who were ousted were former MPs Diane Abbott and Lloyd Russell-Moyle.
Fewer restrictions on Malaysian students
Williams said that the Labour government would likely lift the restrictions imposed by former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s administration, which prevented international students in the UK from bringing dependents via their student visa. A dependent is defined as a partner, married or unmarried, or a child under 18 years old.
However, Oh was less optimistic about Starmer’s government making it easier for non-British students to obtain higher education scholarships, given the UK’s struggling economy and the government’s need to prioritise opportunities for its citizens.
“But I think the door would still be open for foreigners to study in the UK,” he added.
According to the UK government’s Higher Education Statistics Agency, around 12,420 Malaysian students were enrolled in higher education in the UK as of 2022, based on the latest available statistics.
No changes in Malaysia-UK trade relations
Asked whether the new Labour government would help boost trade between the UK and Malaysia, Williams said that there would be minimal changes in trade and investment ties, given that the largest trade between both nations is in education.
“The Labour government will pivot more towards the European Union and will avoid trade deals that upset that relationship,” he added. – July 13, 2024